How to care for reptile pets tips? Indian star tortoises are one of the most beautiful species around! They are aptly named after the eye-catching pattern on their shell. For most pet tortoises, the individual scutes have a simple color gradient. But that’s not the case with the Indian star tortoise. Each scute has a base color of dark brown or black. Emanating from the center of the scute is bright yellow or tan lines. These lines create a star-like pattern, which is repeated over and over again on several scutes throughout the carapace. It’s a sight to behold and makes identifying these creatures a breeze! Native to arid environments and brush forests throughout India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, the Indian star tortoise is a big fan of humidity. It requires humidity levels as high as 80 percent throughout the day! To maintain those levels, having plants and absorbent substrate material is recommended. This pet tortoise breed will also need a dish of water to soak.

Don’t rely on the basking lamp for all your snake-heating needs. It won’t work. Also, don’t go by the thermometers on the wall of the tank, either. They won’t tell you how warm or cold the floor is. Track the floor temperatures, air temperatures, and humidity several times a day and a few times per night for at least a week, before putting the snake in her new home. If you get this wrong, your snake will suffer. Pet snakes do not require much in the way of exercise. Allow her to do her thing, with proper climbing equipment available, and she’ll be fine. Some of the larger snakes like to have a swim in a safe wading pool from time to time. All snakes are carnivores. They eat meat. In fact, they eat their meat whole, with all the bones and innards still inside. Many types of pet snakes eat mice and rats. Some eat amphibians other reptiles. The tiniest ones might live on large insects.

The lifespan of a Mexican alligator lizard can reach up to 20 years in captivity. That makes them a great pet reptile for anyone willing to take on a long-term care commitment. With the right conditions and good husbandry, Abronia graminea will bring years of enjoyment and fascination. Mexican alligator lizard care is best for owners who have intermediate to advanced experience taking care of exotic reptiles. If that describes you, then you’ll definitely enjoy these lizards! Despite the fact that Abronia graminea requires quite a bit of specific care and a very regulated environment, we think that you’ll find the effort well worth it. Give this lizard a well-designed habitat, the right heat and lighting and a balanced diet, and you’ll have a pet to enjoy for many years. The one thing to remember is that Mexican alligator lizards can be easily stressed, and that stress can lead to health issues. It’s important to know what bothers your lizard to avoid any triggers. See additional info at reptile pet habitat guides.

Accurate thermometers and thermostats are essential. We recommend using dual probe digital thermometers to monitor the warm part and the cool part of the tank. A source of ultraviolet light, either through exposure to unfiltered, natural sunlight, or an artificial UVB light will help prevent metabolic bone disease. Remember to replace the light regularly (every 6-12 months) as it will lose UV strength, even though it still emits visible light. The enclosure should be large enough for your bluetongue to move around freely and a clean, good quality substrate, replaced regularly, will encourage it to burrow. Be careful of woodchips, coarse sand, kitty litter and tanbark as they often get eaten by mistake and cause impactions. We recommend newspaper or butchers paper as a safer option.

The affectionately named pancake tortoise is an interesting little reptile to care for! As you can guess from their common name, these pet tortoises are much flatter than other species! Instead of the tall shells that tortoises are known for, pancakes have a broad and flat shell. Native to Southern Kenya and parts of Tanzania, pancake tortoises thrive in scrub forests and rocky hills. At one time, the exportation of this species was common. Unfortunately, this harmed wild populations. Today, the species is quite rare and usually only available from breeders. In captivity, they prefer much of the same environment. You can keep them indoors in a traditional enclosure or outside if the weather permits it. See extra details on here.